On June 10 at 10:45-12:40, the third graders will be having their end of the year party. You are welcome to join us as long as you have already fulfilled the proper volunteer requirements. This party is a potluck. I have placed a sign-up sheet on the door. Please sign up! If you have any questions, E-mail me.

See you at Chuck E. Cheese tonight!

Homework – Attend Chuck E. Cheese night today and study for spelling test unit 36. All children were reminded to bring their books home! Bring library books to school by tomorrow. Last day for AR testing is Thursday.

Thanks,
Ms. Veluz

Just a reminder, this Sunday is First Communion for 3 third graders – Ryan C., Vincent N., and Timothy N… Please join us as we celebrate this special ceremony!

Monday, May 17 is May Crowning. Please send at least ONE fresh flower to school. You may bring more, but each child should have one to offer Mary. Please remove thorns and anything sharp off the flowers. Thanks!

Please join us for the Marine Day on Friday!

Homework for the rest of the year will be given each day. Students are being trained to write their homework down (copy from the board). I am asking parents to sign their homework sheet every night. They will be doing this next year, so I figured they should start practicing now. Homework will be due the next day unless stated that it will be due on Friday.

Have a great weekend!
Ms. Veluz

Thanks for the support,
Ms. Veluz

Welcome back from Easter Break! I hope you and your family had a wonderful Easter — despite the earthquake!

We are on the road to the last 9 weeks of 3rd grade! I can’t believe it. I love each and every one of your children. They have been a blessing in my life in their own special way.

If you are cleared to volunteer in the classroom and are available during the day and would like to earn service hours, please let me know. I do a lot of classroom centers/rotations and would love the extra help.

If you have an extra electric pencil sharpener that you would like to donate to our classroom, all of us would be extremely happy! Please let me know. Our electric pencil sharpener went missing!

We are pretty much done with basic multiplication. However, there are some students who are still struggling with their facts, specifically 6, 7, and 8. Every night before bed, quiz your child to make sure he/she has/will retain their multiplication facts. Currently in math, we are finishing up the measurement section of our book. We will be moving on to geometry and fractions. We will still continue to practice multiplication and division using larger numbers, but I expect them to already know their basic facts.

Next week, in literature, we will begin reading Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. Please make sure that they have their books by Monday. If you ordered your books via Scholastic.com/bookclubs, the order is said to arrive on Monday.

In Science, we will be continuing to talk about the animal kingdom and animal life. If you hear your child talking about different types of animals and asking you questions, please encourage them, and help answer their questions. I will tell them to look things up at home, please supervise when using the internet!

We will be wrapping up our Native American unit this month. I’m excited to see these Native American projects!

In Religion, we will continue to focus on family life. Please don’t forget those parent projects! If you have questions or need extra help, please see me. If I don’t hear anything from you, I will assume you are doing it and aren’t have any problems. Remember, this is a secret and is due on Friday, April 30.

We have learned all lower case and capital letters in cursive from Aa-Rr. I hope to be finished up to Zz by next week. Please practice with them at home when you have “free” time.

Pennies for Patients began yesterday. Any lose change or extra $, please help with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! Our school goal is $500, but if the school reaches $800, Mrs. P says the entire school will get ice cream! I’d like some ice cream! This Friday is a free dress day if you bring $0.50 for Pennies for Patients! That counts towards our school goal.

It’s a busy road ahead! Hang on for the ride!

Have a great week!
Ms. Veluz

Today I am sending home photo packages from Picture Day. If you are interested in the photos, please send the money in the envelope/order form. If you are NOT interested, please send the entire envelope with all the photos. It is due by Wednesday, March 31.

If you have not turned in your child’s Report Card envelopes, please do so by Monday.

I am sending home your child’s Native American Project assignment guide home today (attached to their homework). The project is due Friday, April 23. I know Easter vacation is coming up. PLEASE do not work on the project during Easter break if you have prior plans! I just wanted to send this home before break to give those who have no big plans to get started. I want this project to be as stress-free as possible

PARENT PROJECT:
This should be kept as a secret!
Parent Project Due Date: April 30.

As you know, we have been studying Family Life in Religion. I keep emphasizing how important each of them are to YOU. The project is to write your child a letter. The more family members you get involved, the better. But remember, it is a secret!!

Place the letter/letters in a box and wrap it like a gift. On April 30 (Friday), we will sit in a circle and open our gifts. The gift box is a symbol they they are gifts from God to YOU. What is inside the box/gift is “your child” (the letters about your child). PLEASE participate. In the past, I haven’t had a family who thought they didn’t have enough time to participate. I even had a mom express how much she appreciated this project because she was able to reflect on her family and how much her life has changed with their child in their life.

Here are suggestions to include in the letter to your child:
1. Why did you pick their name?
2. How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a parent/sibling/ aunt/uncle/grandparent?
3. What makes you smile about them?
4. What talent do you appreciate about them?
5. What do you wish for them in their life?
6. Why are they unique?
7. How have they changed your life?

These are just ideas, feel free to write what you want to!

On the outside of the box, write their name on the tag (like you would for a present). Tell them the gift IS NOT for them. We don’t want them to open it beforehand!

If you have questions regarding this project, PLEASE E-mail me. I prefer you talk to be about without your child present. I don’t want to spoil this experience for them and others.

If you are UNABLE to do this assignment, please let me know, so they will not feel left out. I will do one for them. It is much more special, though, if it came from a family member.

I will be here to support you on this project, so please ask if you need help!

Sincerely,
Ms. Veluz

Sincerely,
Ms. Veluz

We actually had a normal, yet, busy week!

Field Trip Info.
In 2 weeks, we will be going on our field trip to the Shipley Nature Center. If it is raining, the field trip will be canceled per Shipley Nature Center/O.C. Department of Education policy. I won’t know of the cancellation until the morning of the field trip.

Field Trip Attire
Students are asked to wear jeans (pants only!) paired with their St. Polycarp polo. Students NEED to wear tennis shoes. They will not be permitted without the proper shoes! If the weather is chilly, please send a school sweater or jacket. Students will be responsible for their belongings.

Field Trip Snack
Snacks should be separate from the lunch bag for ease of passing out snacks. Snack bags should be labeled with your child’s name.

Field Trip Lunch
Please send lunches in a disposable bag with disposable utensils. Please label the bag with your child’s name.

Other Field Trip “DON’Ts”:
DON’T send money with your child on the trip. There are no stores.
DON’T be late to school that morning.
DON’T send a lunch pail/box.
DON’T send silver wear or plastic containers that you would like to use again.

We will be leaving at 8:20AM and will return by 1:00pm.

If you have questions or if you think I forgot to mention something, please E-mail me.

Thanks,
Ms. Veluz

1. invite
2. Monday
3. enjoy
4. until
5. forget
6. napkin
7. window
8. Sunday
9. garden
10. market

11. basket
12. order
13. after
14. under
15. expect
16. wisdom
17. Native American
18. family
19. tribe
20. tipi

Also, congratulations to all my 3rd graders for trying REALLY hard and being so helpful and supportive to each other.

Great Job, Class!